Iris filifolia

Iris filifolia is a bulbous plant in the iris family, Iridaceae. It comes from southwest Spain and Morocco. Its wild sites include dry, rocky ground on sand and limestone. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. Plants reach about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall. The bulb sits below ground and supports a seasonal cycle of leaves and flowers.

The leaves emerge in autumn and remain from October to July. They need shelter from severe frost. Flowers appear in June. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, and the plant is self-fertile. Its autumn leaf growth means frost protection matters before the flowering season. The growing cycle also makes summer dryness an important part of its care.

Give this iris a sunny site with soil that drains well. It does not grow in shade. Sandy soil and loam both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline ground. Soil may be dry or moist during growth. Established plants can withstand drought, but bulbs need dry conditions in summer. In Britain, a cold frame helps shield them from summer damp. Plant bulbs about 0.23–0.33 feet [0.07–0.10 metres] deep. Feed them once flowering has ended. Garden beds are a listed setting for cultivation.

Raise new plants from seed or divide existing clumps. Sow fresh seed in a cold frame once it ripens. Sow stored seed as early in the year as possible. Move seedlings into separate pots once they are large enough. Keep them under glass or in a frame for their first year. Set them out in late spring or early summer. Divide clumps after flowering. Large divisions can go straight into their final sites. Pot small divisions and protect them until they root well. Plant those divisions out in spring.

Plants For A Future records the cooked bulb as a vegetable. It gives the plant a low food-use rating, however. This record does not establish that eating it is safe. The same source lists no known medicinal uses. It also records no other practical uses beyond its garden role. Its weed-potential entry does not flag it as weedy.